Field Guide    Biocontrols  Beetles

Beetles

Within biological controls, beetles are a highly important control agent, helping with the elimination of many pests. Predatory beetles like ground beetles (Carabidae), and rove beetles (Staphylinidae), attack harmful insects, helping in maintaining ecological balance in crop fields.

Ground beetles, active at night, consume caterpillars, slugs, and insect eggs, reducing pest populations in plants and in the soil. Rove beetles develop in compost and mulch, feeding on fly larvae, maggots, and other soft-bodied pests.

The benefits of beetles as biocontrol agents include their ability to reduce chemical pesticide use, naturally control pests and their adaptability to different weather conditions. To keep beetle populations, farmers should maintain native vegetation, minimize tillage and decrease pesticide use.

Beetles can provide an impactful, low-cost, environmentally friendly substitute to chemical control. Their existence helps protect crops while assisting in biodiversity and soil health.